Object Details
Manufacturer
Kollsman Instrument Company
Summary
Apollo astronauts navigated from Earth orbit to the Moon and back in part by taking star sightings. The Command Module contained a sextant and a scanning telescope for this purpose. Sightings taken by the astronauts with these devices were translated into data that was processed by the on-board digital computer.
This sextant may have flown on Apollo 4, an unmanned test flight. It was transferred to the National Air and Space Museum in 1972 from NASA.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19720301000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
INSTRUMENTS-Navigational
Materials
Metal frame, glass optics, rubber eyepiece
Dimensions
3-D: 17.8 x 5.1 x 10.2cm (7 x 2 x 4 in.)
Country of Origin
Argentina(?)
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19720301000